The Way I Loved You

Chapter 10.

Chapter 10

It's been three days since we got back here in Manila. Tan left for NY, while I am busy taking care of the farm and the school.

Bago kami umalis ng Palawan, I had a brief meeting with the officials concerning about the lack of facilities sa lugar nila para sa mga batang may special needs. I told them na, we can talk about some small projects na maaaring makasolusyon sa problema nila.

"Doc Danice, pumunta po dito si Mrs. Gomez nagtatanong kung kailan daw kayo pwede magkita", my secretary asked me. Nandito ako ngayon sa school, sa tatlong building dito ang isa ay clinic ko, dito na ako tumatanggap ng mga clients.

"Did you try to look at our schedule kung saan siya pwede maisingit?" I asked her habang tinitingnan ang mga papers ng mga bata sa school.

"Yes, Doc, medyo puno po tayo ngayon kasi po lahat ng clients na ni-recommend niyo kay Doctor Balderosa noong umalis kayo for NY bumabalik po simula nung nalaman nilang nakabalik na kayo", mukhang magiging busy nga kami this month ah.

"Sige, pakisend nalang sa email ko lahat ng schedule natin for the whole month, I'll try to look for a free time para ma-meet ko si Mrs. Gomez, thank you", Alliah left.

Sumandal ako sa swivel chair. Simula nang bumalik kami galing Palawan madalas overtime ko sa work, minsan dito na ako sa clinic natutulog, good thing I had my clinic designed for sleepovers.

I was busy not realizing it's lunch time already. Mag pe-prepare na sana ako to have lunch outside nang bumukas ang pinto ng opisina ko.

"Doc, may bisita po kayo, lunch time naman daw po kaya nagpumilit na pumasok", Alliah said. I instructed her na papasukin.

"Hey", nagulat ako sa dumungaw sa pintuan. It was Reg.

"Hi, anong ginagawa mo dito?" tumayo ako at naupo sa couch.

"Dinadalhan ka ng lunch", sabay angat ng paper bag na dala nya.

"Upo ka", turo ko sa katapat na couch ng inuupuan ko, lumapit naman siya, naupo at binaba ang paper bag sa ibaba ng lamesita.

"Thank you", he said once he settled down the couch.

"Paano mo nalaman na nandito ako?"Nagtatakang tanong ko sakanya dahil simula nang bumalik kami galing Palawan ay hindi pa ako nag rereply sa mga text messages nya.

"I googled your name online, lumabas yung website ng school mo, nakalagay yung address", hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman ko sa ginawa niya, natatawa ako sa isip na hindi ko napansin napangiti na ako.

"Ano yang nginingiti ngiti mo diyan? Kinikilig ka ano?" natauhan ako sa sinabi niya. Umayos ako ng upo.

"Ano ba kasing naisipan mo at nagdala ka pa dito ng pagkain?" Tanong ko sakanya, making it look like very casual..

"Hindi ka kasi nag rereply sa mga text messages ko, so I guess busy ka sa work, instead of asking you out for lunch nagdala nalang ako dito kasi I remember na mas gusto mo kumakain sa komportable kang lugar kesa kumain sa labas", nakatingin lang ako sakanya habang hinahain niya ang mga dala nyang pagkain na naka lagay sa tupperware.

"Sorry if I wasn't able to reply, sobrang busy lang kasi--" he stopped me from explaining.

"No need to explain, I understand", inabutan niya ako ng pinggan.

"Thank you", I said.

I have always dreamed of this to happen. Looking at him now, here in my office. I just can't believe we're here in this situation.

"I bought shrimp and chicken", binuksan niya ang mga pagkain, "ayan ha, breast part na yan hindi na wings", nagkatawanan kami sa sinabi niya. Naningkit naman ang kanyang mga mata, how I missed those eyes and that smile.

"How's Kyla?" Kyla is his niece, anak ng ate niya, naging close kami ng batang 'yon noong pumupunta ako sa kanila.

"Ayun, malaki na, at pasaway na din", sumandok siya ng kanin at inilagay iyon sa pinggan ko, I mouthed thank you.

"Mana siguro kasi sayo kaya pasaway",

"Syempre, ako kaya favorite Tito niya", he said.

"As if naman kasi may choice yung bata, eh ikaw lang naman tito niya", I really missed this, having a good conversation with him, it's just that I felt like there is something missing, or there is something off, but I brushed it off because I don't want to be negative.

"Maiba nga tayo, look at you now, a doctor, owns a school, clinic and a farm", I was busy eating my chicken.

"Maliliit lang naman na businesses ito, and also I do not own them alone, Tan is my partner in everything", that's true, Tan is with me every single step of the way. As I remember him, I also remember to call him right after my lunch, I made a mental note.

"Yeah, Tan", mahinang sabi niya kaya tumingin ako sakanya, he's not looking at me. I suddenly remember when I was talking with Margaux and Tammy back when we were at Palawan, they said something about Tan and Reg's past.

"Aren't you close with him?" I suddenly wanted to ask that.

"We used to be", tumingin siya sakin, "pero that's all in the past now, 'wag na natin ungkatin pa", I respect what he said, time will come malalaman ko din naman 'yon.

Nagpatuloy lang kami sa pagkain while he was telling me stories back when he was in Canada.

"Remember those maple leaves that you've always wanted to see, once I saw a real one I remember you, I wanted to send pictures sana but--" he didn't finish what he was saying.

"But?"

"Nevermind, here kumain ka pa, madami pang hipon oh", he put some shrimp on my plate.

I suddenly heard a knock from my door before it opened.

"Doc, pinapasabi po ni Sir Tan na tumatawag po siya sa inyo, nakakailang tawag na daw po siya pero hindi niyo sinasagot kaya nag alala po siya at tumawag na sa akin, sinabi ko naman po na hindi kayo lumabas ng office para mag lunch", tiningnan ko ang orasan malapit sa pinto ng opisina ko, nagulat ako nang makita kong pasado ala una na ng hapon, I immediately stood up and quickly took my phone from my table, I saw 22 missed calls from Tan.

I called him right away, in a split of second he answered.

"Hey, I am really sorry, I was eating my lunch, I didn't noticed na it's past one na pala, I am sorry I made you worry. Yes, I am here in my office, with... Regan, he, brought me lunch here in my office, I know it's late there, you should be sleeping na, I will, you take care there okay, haha, I knew it you're gonna miss me, well, I miss you too. Bye", I ended the call and place my phone back down my table.

"Ang sweet ah", napalingon ako kay Reg.

"Nakasanayan lang", I said then bumalik sa pag upo ko sa couch. Reg looked at his watch.

"Hey, it's late, baka madami ka pang gagawin", nagsimula siyang ligpitin ang mga pinagkainan namin.

"Thank you for bringing me food, I really did appreciate it", I said while helping him.

"No worries", he answered, "I will leave this chicken and shrimp ha, take this home or eat it here while working", inilagay niya sa hiwaly na paperbag ang iiwan niya at itatapon na.

"Thank you ha", hinatid ko siya sa pintuan ng office ko.

"Pwede ba tayo lumabas minsan?"

"I'll check my schedule",nginitian ko siya.

"How about dinner tonight?" mukhang pursigido siya ah.

"May dinner meeting ako tonight", I looked at my wrist watch, "it's almost 2, I have meeting pa pala", bumalik ako ng tingin sa kanya.

"Sige na, aalis na ako baka malate ka pa sa meeting mo", nginitian niya ako. Akala ko aalis na siya, but I was caught off guard when he kissed me on my forehead.

Natulala ako sa ginawa niya, narinig ko nalang na nagpaalam na siyang umalis at tinititigan ko siya habang papalayo. Kung hindi pa tumunog ang telepono sa opisina ko hindi pa ako magigising sa katotohanan. I went back to my table smiling from ear to ear.